Skip to Main Content
 
Translator disclaimer

Cogeneration allows the optimal use of the primary energy sources and significant reductions in carbon emissions. Its use has great potential for applications in the residential sector. This study aims to develop a methodology for thermal-economic optimisation of small-scale micro-gas turbine for cogeneration purposes, able to fulfil domestic energy needs with a thermal power out of 125 kW. A constrained non-linear optimisation model was built. The objective function is the maximisation of the annual worth from the combined heat and power, representing the balance between the annual incomes and the expenditures subject to physical and economic constraints. A genetic algorithm coded in the java programming language was developed. An optimal micro-gas turbine able to produce 103.5 kW of electrical power with a positive annual profit (i.e. 11,925 €/year) was disclosed. The investment can be recovered in 4 years and 9 months, which is less than half of system lifetime expectancy.

Additional information

Funding

The authors are grateful for the support provided by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia national funds under the Strategic Project PEst2015-2020, with the reference: UID/CEC/00319/2013.

Acknowledgements

The authors want to address their acknowledgements to CLEGI FCT/4005.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.